House Judiciary Committee debates articles of impeachment against Trump

The House Judiciary Committee is currently debating the articles of impeachment brought against Donald Trump … though from the coverage it’s getting in the media, it might as well not be happening. Though networks could be bothered to pause briefly on Wednesday morning for the actual announcement of the articles, that appears to be the extent to which they’re willing to pull themselves away from celebrity gossip and holiday shopping tips.

The hearing opened this morning with a full reading of the nine-page resolution. Following the reading, the committee moved to a series of statements, using a—still bizarre after all this time—series of representatives moving to “strike the last word” as an excuse to stand up and talk about absolutely anything except striking the last word.

So far, Republicans have moved to strike the entire first article, after Jim Jordan reduced every witness statement to hearsay. And Debbie Lesko engaged in some prolonged screaming about the need for a “minority hearing” day in which they could bring in those witnesses they want—such as the whistleblower, Hunter Biden, and the Loch Ness monster, with a lot of claims about how corrupt Democrats are. Following that, Democrat Joe Neguse did an admirable job of both defending the process of the impeachment and comparing it favorably to past impeachment actions.

This is genuinely the last opportunity for Judiciary Committee members to have a say on the articles, to offer proposed changes, and eventually to cast their roll call vote to move these articles to the floor of the House.

Thursday, Dec 12, 2019 · 7:10:34 AM PST · Mark Sumner

Rep. Eric Swalwell, who has done a terrific job on his questioning, gets his chance to defend the articles saying that Trump committed the “highest crime” against the Constitution. Then nicely goes through a list of potential charges, including detailing why Trump’s actions constitute criminal bribery.

Thursday, Dec 12, 2019 · 7:19:04 AM PST

Jim Jordan continues to pretend that the assistance was released because of reasons that not even the White House even claimed, and that Ukraine never promised to make an announcement, when they absolutely did, while complaining that Democrats are making too many assumptions.

Thursday, Dec 12, 2019 · 7:25:15 AM PST · Mark Sumner

Matt Gaetz joins Jordan in claiming that the military assistance was released after “five critical meetings” — which is a claim the White House itself still hasn’t made. They’re just having to make up excuses for Trump without even help from Trump. He probably enjoys that.

Thursday, Dec 12, 2019 · 7:28:39 AM PST

Gaetz declares that the impeachment is a “Rorkshire inkblot test.” Which … cool.

Thursday, Dec 12, 2019 · 7:30:28 AM PST

Rep. Pramila Jayapal chewing up the argument that Trump was “concerned about corruption.” Doing such a good job that Jordan feels compelled to try to jump in an interfere.

Thursday, Dec 12, 2019 · 6:56:21 AM PST

Rep. Zoe Lofgren did a fine job of describing how the Clinton impeachment was moved forward, and points up that Republican Jim Sensenbrenner was one of those who was present at that time.

Sennsenbrenner immediately stands up to stay that the hearings were “secret, classified” hearings where members weren’t allowed to tell what was said. Which was never true about any of the hearings held. Claims that both sides present “whatever witnesses they wanted” in the Clinton hearing. Apparently that was none, because the only person who testified in the Clinton hearings was Ken Starr.

Thursday, Dec 12, 2019 · 6:59:40 AM PST

The discussion at the moment remains on a Republican motion to completely strike the first article of impeachment. After everyone gets their say on this and it gets voted down, expect them to raise other procedural blocks to a final vote — including a likely attempt to strike the second article.

And then, after wasting the entire day delaying the vote, Republicans will complain about the wasted day.

Thursday, Dec 12, 2019 · 8:08:31 AM PST

Rep. Val Demings does a good job of knocking down Republican claims centered around the use of specific words like “demand.”

Demings: When I robber comes up to you with a gun, he doesn’t say “I’m robbing you right now.”

It’s still robbery.